The launeddas are an ancient instrument; a bronzestatue depicting a man playing a triple cane pipe unearthed in Sardinia has been dated between the eighth and ninth centuries BC. Similar reed pipes have been documented to exist at even earlier dates in Egypt and the Middle East, but all current evidence suggests that the Launeddas' triple configuration is unique to Sardinia.

In a pattern common throughout the world, the traditional music of Sardinia and the practice of making and playing Launeddas fought an uphill battle against the influences of radio, television, and even state repression. Yet, like many other folkways in modern nations, interest in the launeddas has increased. During the 1970s and 1980s, cultural associations and the few remaining maestros successfully waged a campaign to reintroduce Sardinians to their beloved instrument, a fitting symbol for an independent-minded and proud people.